https://odb.org/MY/2022/09/11/compassion-over-bitterness
When some injustice happens to us, it is usually difficult to avoid getting angry, bitter and vengeful. I experienced that before in my previous employment, and as I look back I realised that it is unreasonable to expect everything to be good for over 27 years. There are bound to be times when people would have thought that I was too long at a certain role. So, in a way, it is true that as far as work is concerned, it may be better if that’s God’s will for us, to move out say, every 7 to 10 years.
Bitterness also comes when there is a breakdown in relationships. Certain expectations are shattered and that leaves us hurt, vulnerable and alone. Thus it is difficult sometimes not to get angry, bitter and vengeful. Most lawyers prefer not to do divorce cases as such cases are usually messy and very emotional with lots of bad vibes and negativity going back and forth. Sometimes we also get bitter when we lose someone we love.
Can we avoid anger, bitterness and revenge? No, I doubt so. But time heals. In particular, God heals. Like today’s ODB’s life illustration, the meeting between the mothers – of a person killed in the 9/11 attack and of one of the perpetrators of that attack. There was compassion flowing from the mother of the victim to the mother of the perpetrator. Both lost their sons and it is tragic and heartbreaking for both mothers.
At our personal level, perhaps if we had compassion for the person who caused us such pain. Perhaps he or she was under tremendous pressure to meet certain KPIs. Perhaps it was never personal. Perhaps what happened was to achieve a certain objective. Still difficult but I guess with compassion it helps to alleviate the situation. In the case of the mothers, the perpetrator’s mother also lost her son and mothers always find it tough to get over the loss of their children. Compassion helps I agree and believe. With Christ helping us along, we will be able to forgive and move on and remove all anger, bitterness and revenge. In time to come, we don’t even want God to be our vengeance. With compassion, we will pray for the goodness of God upon the life of our “enemy”, pray for their well being instead of their destruction. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control are attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit. If we have compassion, surely we will have forgiveness and thus will surely be able to nurture the attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Pray for and love our enemies, and bitterness and revenge will not take root in our hearts and poison our soul!
Ronnie's Thoughts 